About Unfocused: Mark Gordon Photography
Welcome to unfocusedmg, the personal web site of Mark Gordon. This web site is very much a work in progress.
It's mostly a place where I can display my personal photographs.
It's also a place for me to learn and experiment with Adobe Dreamweaver and other web tools.
I began taking pictures seriously when I was in high school and continued through college, where I took every available photography course at the University of Nebraska. I consider myself very fortunate to have been a student during a time when three incredible photographers taught at the school. George Tuck was my photojournalism instructor, but I really took more courses (because more were offered) under Jim Alinder. When Jim received a grant from the Friends of Photography to travel for a semester, I was again very fortunate, because Ellen Land-Weber served as a visiting professor in photography during Jim's sabbatical.
After graduation I worked as a reporter, editor and photographer for several newspapers before deciding that poverty was not my preferred lifestyle. During a year in Seward, Nebraska, I met and had the good fortune to take a community college class under Reinhold Marxhausen. Marxhausen was an incredible artist who found beauty in almost all objects. When I look at my pictures I realize what akey influence he was.
After leaving the newspaper business, I took pictures only sporadically and mostly for vacations and family gatherings for the next 25 years.
Today's digital technology makes it possible for me to again pursue photography – not commercially, but rather as a form of personal expression. I'm trying to re-learn the craft and refine my vision. Because I don't have to earn a living from photography I only have to satisfy one client – myself. And, while I seldom accomplish that, I'm enjoying learning and making pictures.
I chose unfocusedmg as my web site address because it pretty much sums up my life. There is so much to do and learn in life, that's sometimes it's hard to choose. I try to stay focused, but it's often just not going to happen.
I try to write a blog, but like most people, it doesn't always get the attention it should. It's a work in progress and also a bit unfocused at this time. It is mostly an opportunity to write about and discuss photography and photographers. I like to read about photography and much of the blog is devoted to reviews and commentary on books on photography.
You can also find me on Facebook.